Association between workplace violence and occupational stress among emergency department nurses: a cross-sectional study

Background Emergency department (ED) nurses suffer from workplace violence (WPV) and occupational stress (OS) due to the working environment. However, a relatively small number of studies on the relationship between WPV and OS among ED nurses have been conducted and its impact on nurse health or nursing quality. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 hospitals in China from December 26, 2023, to January 18, 2024 through questionnaire survey and stratified cluster sampling. Results A total of 1,540 ED nurses were surveyed, 1,309 of whom had experienced WPV. OS score of these ED nurses was (55.55 ± 16.78). Correlation between WPV and OS was significant (rs = 0.577, P < 0.01), and multivariate regression analysis revealed that an education level of bachelor's degree or higher; weekly working hours of 41–48, 49–58, and ≥59 h; physical violence experience; and psychological WPV were key influencing factors of OS among ED nurses. Conclusion A high proportion of ED nurses had experienced WPV, they had moderate to severe levels of OS, and WPV was a direct predictor of OS among them. This may be reduced by strengthening the management of violence in their workplace.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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